diff --git a/src/nvim/runtime.c b/src/nvim/runtime.c
index c479418131..2cae79c0fd 100644
--- a/src/nvim/runtime.c
+++ b/src/nvim/runtime.c
@@ -2857,7 +2857,7 @@ bool script_autoload(const char *const name, const size_t name_len, const bool r
     // Try loading the package from $VIMRUNTIME/autoload/<name>.vim
     // Use "ret_sid" to avoid loading the same script again.
     int ret_sid;
-    if (do_in_runtimepath(scriptname, 0, source_callback, &ret_sid) == OK) {
+    if (do_in_runtimepath(scriptname, DIP_START, source_callback, &ret_sid) == OK) {
       ret = true;
     }
   }
diff --git a/test/old/testdir/test_packadd.vim b/test/old/testdir/test_packadd.vim
index 730cb3278b..47cf520bb9 100644
--- a/test/old/testdir/test_packadd.vim
+++ b/test/old/testdir/test_packadd.vim
@@ -258,6 +258,19 @@ func Test_packloadall()
   call assert_equal(4321, g:plugin_bar_number)
 endfunc
 
+func Test_start_autoload()
+  " plugin foo with an autoload directory
+  let autodir = &packpath .. '/pack/mine/start/foo/autoload'
+  call mkdir(autodir, 'p')
+  let fname = autodir .. '/foobar.vim'
+  call writefile(['func foobar#test()',
+	\ '  return 1666',
+	\ 'endfunc'], fname)
+
+  call assert_equal(1666, foobar#test())
+  call delete(fname)
+endfunc
+
 func Test_helptags()
   let docdir1 = &packpath . '/pack/mine/start/foo/doc'
   let docdir2 = &packpath . '/pack/mine/start/bar/doc'